Seawolf Debate closes out fall ‘21 semester strong!

by Green & Gold News  |   

The UAA students who make up the competitive squad of the Seawolf Debate Program (SDP) demonstrated their resilience and commitment with an extraordinarily strong showing in the fall 2021 semester. After over 18 months of COVID-related disruptions, the Seawolf debaters proved they had not lost their edge. The students competed in five tournaments this semester: four online and one in-person event. They posted finals showing in four of those tournaments and won the Carroll College tournament (which had 68 teams competing) outright. Their performance resulted in two of the Seawolf tw0operson teams ranked in the top five teams conference-wide; as a squad the Seawolf debaters were ranked 2nd overall.

The Seawolf Debate Program at the Point Loma Nazarene University Sunset Cliffs Classic debate tournament in October 2021.
The Seawolf Debate Program at the Point Loma Nazarene University Sunset Cliffs Classic debate tournament in October 2021.

But the program wasn’t content with only its competitive successes in the fall 2021 semester. They also reinvigorated their service agenda, volunteering to judge at high school debate tournaments throughout the semester and hosting training sessions in Fairbanks, the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage for middle school debaters. They also sponsored two competitions in support of the Middle School Public Debate Program they founded seven years ago; most exciting was the return to in-person MSPDP competition in December, where Begich Middle School prevailed over Academy Charter of Palmer to take top honors.

Begich Middle School speaks their way to victory over Academy Charter in the December ‘21 MSPDP tournament hosted by Seawolf Debate.
Begich Middle School speaks their way to victory over Academy Charter in the December ‘21 MSPDP tournament hosted by Seawolf Debate.

The spring 2022 semester is chock-full of events for the SDP, including five competitions in which UAA students will participate, hosting the Alaska State High School Drama, Debate and Forensics Championships in February and sponsoring a number of middle school tournaments in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Notably, the SDP is honored to have been selected to host the collegiate debate conference championship and are hopeful that circumstances will be such that they’ll be able to welcome dozens of teams from across the U.S. to Anchorage in April.

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